Non-seize receptacle door



Dec. 17, 1957 J. A. NIEMEYER 2,816,680

NoN-SEIZE RECEPTACLE DooR Filed may 25, 195e K r r 1%4 44 #WF1 327 rum-mm@ 321 2f.

United States Patent O NoN-SEIZE RECEPTACLE DOOR .lohn A. Niemeyer, Torrance, Calif., assignor to Northrop Aircraft, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of Califomia Application May 25, 1956, Serial No. 587,234

1 Claim. (Cl. 220--29) This invention has to do with closures in general and more particularly with spring loaded closures that protect and ma'ke accessible electric receptacles.

It is often the case that electric receptacles are protected from moisture as well as other elements by closures or doors. Very often all that is necessary -to use the receptacle is to urge the mating member through the doors. However, when it becomes necessary to remove the mating or male member from the receptacle or female member the door seizes the male member and either resists removal or if removal is obtained the male member is so badly scored as to be unsightly or is mined.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide non-seize receptacle doors that make readily accessible the female member and permits ready release, without seizure of the male member, when removal of the male member is desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide spring loaded non-seize receptacle doors that will reciprocate as well as rotate on a pivot point.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide nonseize receptacle doors that have a unique spring arrangement that urges the doors to the closed position yet enables the latter to rotate and reciprocate on a pivot.

Briey the invention has to do with spring loaded nonseize receptacle doors that are mounted for rotation and reciprocable movement. The doors will admit a male electrical member to pass therethrough to mate with a female member. When the male member is removed from the female, the doors tend to close, but before the doors seize the member they are urged to move apart permitting its unrestricted removal.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating and having embodied therein the present invention, certain related structure being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 3 is a View taken from Figure l looking in the direction of the arrow identified by the numeral 3 and illustrating the initial position prior to inserting a male electrical member through the doors of this invention and into a receptacle or female member.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the male member being urged through the doors of this invention and the position the latter assumes when in the illustrated condition.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 but illustrating removal of the male member through the doors and the non-seize position the latter assumes.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the spring that urges the doors of this invention to a closed position.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention 10 designates a frame having an opening 12 therethrough.

Four equally spaced L-shaped brackets 14 are secured Patented Dec. 17, 1957 ICC to the frame by rivets or fasteners 16. One leg of each of the brackets has a slot 18 therein that receives a pivot pin 20 of doors 22.

The edge of each door 22 in opposed relationship to the pivot pins 20 has a resilient cushion or guard 24 therein that protects the male electrical member 25 from scoring.

Additionally, each bracket 14 has an opening 26 therein spaced from the slot in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. A projection 28 on one leg 30 of a U-shaped spring, broadly designated 32, is received in the opening 26. Leg 34 has the extreme end thereof coiled, as at 36, about each of the pivot pins 20. Integral with the coiled end 36 of the leg 34 is an arm 38 that also has a projection 40 thereon. The arm extends across the back of the respective doors in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Assume the doors 22 to be closed and in the position illustrated in Figure 3. The male electrical member 25 is urged through the doors 22, in opposition to the force exerted by arm 38, and into the female electrical member 44 or receptacle. The doors 22 swing open in the manner illustrated in Figure 4 and as may be determined the spring 32 urges the pivot pins 20 and doors 22 in the direction indicated by the arrows that may be seen in the last mentioned figure.

"When the male member 25 is removed from the female member 44 the edge of the doors or guard 24 engage the member 25 and a momentary wedging action is obtained. However, the force necessary to remove the male member overcomes the force of the springs 32 and the doors 22 are urged in the direction indicated by the arrows seen in Figure 5. As a result the male member 25 may be readily removed from the female member 44 and Withdrawn from between the doors.

As the male member 25 is removed the spring 32 and the arm 38 urge the doors 22 to the closed position illustrated in Figure 3.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises a preferred form of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

Closure comprising a frame defining an opening; a pair of spaced brackets secured to said frame on opposed sides of said opening; each pair of said brackets having slots therein that are in parallel relationship with respect to each other and general tangential relationship with respect to said opening; a pair of elongated doors that are reciprocably and rotatably mounted in said brackets; said doors having a pivot pin in each end thereof that is received in a slot of a respective bracket; a pair of U-shaped springs for each door one leg of each of which is attached to a bracket and one leg of each of which is coiled about said pivot pin to urge the door to the closed position; an arm integral with the coiled end of each spring that bears against each end of said door to urge the latter to the closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,173,558 Cosmen et al. Feb. 29, 1916 2,645,229 Stillman July 14, 1953 2,765,948 Palsey et al Oct. 9, 1956 2,766,465 Radzik Oct. 16, 1956 

